Eyes open and hands on: market knowledge and marketing capabilities in export markets

PurposeDrawing on the knowledge-based view of the firm (KBV) and Dynamic Marketing Capabilities (DMC), this paper examines the role of key internationalization knowledge absorption processes as learning strategies, namely market exploitation and market exploration in enabling internationalization knowledge absorption in export-oriented firms involved in manufacturing goods or producing electrical/engineering products.Design/methodology/approachThe data were gathered via a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire (i.e. n = 315) on a sample of Bangladeshi manufacturing firms exporting in US and European markets.FindingsThe findings suggest that an export firm's internationalization absorption strategies are positively associated with export performance. The authors also found that the mediator, DMC, strengthened the relationship between knowledge absorption and export performance. Moreover, the findings of moderated mediation model revealed that the direct and indirect effects of market exploitation on export performance are more prevalent when competitive intensity is low. While competitive intensity is high, the direct and indirect effects of market exploration on export performance are more prevalent.Practical implicationsBy introducing a higher-level dynamic marketing capability approach and linking it to ambidexterity constructs (learning though exploration and exploitation), export business professionals should appreciate the full spectrum of mid-level marketing capabilities they need to develop alongside their exploration and exploitation strategies to improve their export performance. This study directs attention to the competitive intensity conditions the exporting firm is facing. When export business professionals are faced with high-level of competitive intensity in the market, they should establish a clear focus on their exploration learning strategies if they wish to enhance their export performance.Originality/valueThe authors contribute to two broad domains of literature: organizational learning and DMC strategy. The study results show that how the two components of international ambidexterity as organizational learning constructs (i.e. market exploration and exploitation) influence knowledge management processes within firms through a firm's possession of a fine configuration of higher-level marketing capability. This study also theoretically and empirically examines how higher-level DMC strategy can mediate the consequence of international knowledge absorption mechanism on firm export performance. From a practical perspective, this study provides useful lessons for exporting firms wishing to enhance their performance.

Network Position and Crowdsourcing Innovation Contribution Behavior: The Moderating Role of Knowledge Absorption Capacity

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between network position and crowdsourcing innovation contribution behavior and the moderating effects of knowledge absorption capacity on the aforementioned relationship. Design/Methodology/Approach. Focusing on the Chinese context, the study conducts empirical research with the user’s knowledge-sharing network of the MIUI community to test the research model. The negative binomial regression model which is suitable for processing discrete data is used to examine the main effects of the network position, knowledge absorption capacity, and crowdsourcing innovation contribution behavior. Findings. The findings reveal that the closer the user gets to the center of the network, the more likely they will contribute. The users’ knowledge absorption capacity can help stimulate the users’ crowdsourcing innovation contribution behavior, and the users with stronger knowledge absorption capacity are more likely to transform their network position advantages into innovative contribution behaviors. Practical Implications. The study provides evidence that network position has a positive impact on their crowdsourcing innovation contribution behavior, and knowledge absorption capacity promotes the crowdsourcing innovation behavior of users. Managers should encourage users to occupy a favorable network position and increase knowledge exchange with other users, while at the same time continuously improving their own knowledge absorption capacity. Originality/Value. This study combines social network theory and the individual mindset to introduce knowledge absorptive capacity into the relationship model of the user’s network position and crowdsourcing innovation contribution behavior, thereby constructing a complete path of “knowledge supply-knowledge acquisition-knowledge application-knowledge output.” The study contributes to provide a theoretical basis for an in-depth understanding of the influence relationship between network position and crowdsourcing innovation contribution behavior. Also, it provides a reference for enterprises to carry out practical crowdsourcing innovation community governance and improve innovation performance.

Regional expansion of emerging market SMEs: the roles of domestic market environmental uncertainty and international alliance partner diversity

This study develops and tests a framework of the effect of domestic market environmental uncertainty on international alliance partner diversity (IAPD) and the effect of IAPD on small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs’) regional expansion. Leveraging primary data from a sample of 232 Pakistani SMEs, the findings indicate that domestic market dynamism and technological dynamism drive SMEs to engage in IAPD. The analysis further reveals that IAPD improves SMEs’ regional expansion, and particularly so at higher levels of cross-cultural knowledge absorption. The research and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Analysis of Academic Cooperation Network for Returnee Faculty Members to Realize Value from the Perspective of Economics

Drawing on theories of social network and knowledge absorption, this paper examines the direct influence of returnee faculty members (RFMs) over college research performance (CRP) from three aspects, namely, the intensity of cooperative relationship (ICR), research influence (RI), and acquisition capability of heterogeneous knowledge (ACHK). In addition, the authors tested the regulating effect of ICR. The results show that RI of RFMs has a significant positive effect on CRP, ACHK has no significant effect on CRP, and ICR has a significant negative effect and a major regulating effect on CRP.

The characteristics of knowledge diffusion of library and information science – from the perspective of citation

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the characteristics of knowledge diffusion of library and information science to reveal its development trend and influence on other disciplines.Design/methodology/approachBased on the ESI discipline classification, this paper measures the knowledge diffusion from the library and information science to other disciplines over the last 24 years using indicators in four dimensions: breadth, intensity, speed and theme of knowledge diffusion.FindingsThe results show that the knowledge diffusion breadth of library and information science is wide, spreading to 21 ESI disciplines; the knowledge spread mainly concentrates in four soft or applied disciplines, and yet partially inter-disciplinary, and the knowledge diffusion intensity to each ESI discipline is parabolic whose highest point is mostly in 2004–2005; the speed of spreading to the 21 ESI disciplines is faster and faster, and the articles at the highest speed of knowledge diffusion are basically published after 2005; the knowledge diffusion themes are becoming increasingly diverse, deepening and specialization over time.Originality/valueThis paper modifies the relevant indicators of knowledge diffusion and constructs a measurement framework of knowledge diffusion from four aspects: breadth, intensity, speed and theme. The research method can also be used to explore the characteristics of knowledge absorption of a discipline from other ones.

Research on dual innovation incentive mechanism in terms of organizations’ differential knowledge absorptive capacity

Differences in the capacity for absorption between different organizations will have an important impact on an organization’s choices of innovation exploration and exploitive innovation strategies. Organizations need to explore correct strategic decisions under different policies for long-term development. This study with limited rational first-mover and late-mover organizations as the research object, based on the evolutionary game theory model, using visualization system deduced first-mover and late-mover organizations in the knowledge absorptive capacity differences and incentive policies under the condition of different strategies selection process. The research shows that the rationality of policy incentive setting has a direct impact on the choice of organizational dual innovation strategy with different knowledge absorption capacities. The market pattern is stable and organizational knowledge absorption capacity is different. The higher the policy incentive level is, the more the organization is inclined to carry out exploratory innovation activities. Under the environment of stable market structure, different organizational knowledge absorption capacity, and no policy incentive, late-mover cannot adopt exploratory innovation strategy alone. When the market pattern is stable and the absorptive capacity of the organization is different, whether the late-mover can adopt the exploratory innovation strategy depends on the policy incentive level. In this case, the optimal situation is to have the opportunity to change to exploratory innovation at the same time as the first-movers.

Knowledge management and innovative behavior: police reform efforts in Puerto Rico

Purpose Knowledge management has historically been approached in private firms as a key factor for business management. However, this is not the case for government institutions. The existing literature on the transfer of knowledge appears as a topic little addressed in government and even to a lesser degree within the police forces. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between motivation, knowledge absorption, knowledge transfer and innovative behavior in a public organization such as the Puerto Rico Police. Design/methodology/approach This quantitative research using the survey technique had the participation of 300 police officers from the 13 police regions of Puerto Rico and the research model was analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The results contribute to the growth of the currently limited literature at identifies how motivation, knowledge absorption, knowledge transfer and institutional support influence innovative behavior. Originality/value The study discusses a series of implications on less explore the issue in how the transfer of knowledge becomes a key force to produce change and the success of all reforms. Various implications for the success of public administration in bringing a change from a bureaucratic culture to an advanced one are also discussed.

Industry Cluster Innovation Upgrading and Knowledge Evolution: A Simulation Analysis Based on Small-World Networks

This article focuses on the innovation and knowledge evolution of industry clusters. We examine the effects of the hub firm and the interaction of network member firms on the upgrading of the cluster. Our study is based on two patterns of knowledge learning and innovation, namely, STI (science, technology, and innovation) and DUI (doing, using, and interacting). This article adopts a knowledge diffusion simulation model to study the exchange of knowledge between cluster network actors in the context of small-world networks. The results indicate that we must pay close attention to the influence of hub enterprises on cluster evolution. Although hub companies may have certain innovation capabilities, if knowledge absorption problems among members are not properly resolved in the cluster network, the innovation performance of the local clusters is likely to be weakened, despite the success of the hub firm.

Knowledge Sharing in R&D Teams: An Evolutionary Game Model

Knowledge sharing plays an important role in promoting innovation and helping improve R&D team performance in the digital age. Based on the evolutionary game theory, this study develops an evolutionary game model of knowledge sharing in R&D teams in order to explore its system evolution path, the evolutionary stability strategy, and the influencing mechanism in knowledge sharing. Then using a simulation model, this study examines the dynamic evolution process of knowledge sharing within R&D teams. The results show that the effectiveness of knowledge sharing in the R&D teams can be promoted by R&D team members’ cognitive ability, knowledge absorption ability, knowledge transformation ability, knowledge innovation ability, and the degree of knowledge complementarity within teams. The simulation results further show that reducing the environmental risk can also effectively improve R&D teams’ innovation performance. The findings of this study thus provide evidence for knowledge sharing as an important route to sustainable development.